Mission Statement:
The Little Theatre invites our community youth to participate in an engaging and accessible introduction to theatre arts. We offer multimodal opportunities in a safe and supportive environment, paying particular attention to access, inclusion, and diversity.
True community theatre provides an unprecedented opportunity to work intergenerationally on common creative projects. Our stage has seen a grandfather singing in a choir while his grandson acts a part and whole families have been onstage together as units. Our space wouldn’t feel complete without our youngest participants working shoulder-to-shoulder with our seasoned mentors.
The Little Theatre embraces youth, providing shows specific to their age range and also inviting them to join regular season productions whenever possible.
In an effort to introduce kids to performing and creative pursuits and build a lifelong love of the arts, we offer three summer productions that offer different types of opportunities. All productions are by audition and tuition-free.
A Note On Auditions
All Youth Opportunities at The Little Theatre of Walla Walla are “come as you are” and do not require any prepared material.
Kids may be disappointed if they are not cast. There is not always a role for everyone. The first thing to remember is that there are so many reasons this can happen. Some roles need specific skills like a vocal range, emotional depth, or comedic timing. Sometimes physical qualities are needed, such as height, age, or gender. Other times directors consider how actors fit together.
If your child doesn’t get a role, take the opportunity to model how to handle life’s disappointments. Make sure you emphasize the courage it took to try out. Congratulate them on what they did well and review the reasons there may not have been a role for them (see above). Once a little time has passed, consider debriefing what they can do to work on their skills, bring them to workshops, and consider how they can be involved in a different way.
Missoula Children’s Theatre
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
Auditions: Monday, June 16, 10 AM -12 PM, plan to stay the full two hours
Ages: rising 1st through 12 grade students
Roles: up to 60
Rehearsals: Monday-Friday, June 16-20, 10:00 am - 2:15 pm, depending on role
Performances: Saturday, June 21, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm
Admission: $10, festival seating
A young princess named Show White finds herself in peril when her step-mother, the Queen, is told by her Magic Mirror that the princess is fairer than she! Aided by her two Henchmen and a band of evil Bats, the Queen plots to get rid of Snow White. But the Queen’s evil plans are thwarted when Snow White’s fearless Forest Friends, her father King Backwards, the Seven Dwarfs and the Prince come to her rescue.
Workshops:
Tuesday, June 17, 2:30-3:15
Improv - Listening, creativity, bravery – all important skills for the Improv Actor to hone. This workshop emphasizes teamwork and “all-in” participation as the students learn to act without a script. Students of any experience level will be successful in this workshop.
Spotlight Kids
“Fireside Fairy Tales”
Auditions (Grades 1-6): Tuesday, June 24, 6-7 PM
Roles (Grades 7-12): Go here to sign up for production roles
Roles: up to 20, additional student creativity needed for each production area
Rehearsals: Mon-Fri, June 30 - July 11, 9:30 - 11:30 am (exclusive of July 4)
Performances: Saturday, July 12, 3:00 & 5:00 pm
Admission: $10, festival seating
Fireside Fairy Tales is a Spotlight Kids production. This one-act play will feature elementary school-aged students on stage and middle/high school students in production roles. Guided by seasoned teacher/director Sarah Thomson, students can focus on creativity and bringing their story to life. Rehearsals run during the mornings for two weeks and there are two performances on the last Saturday. This production invites students to be involved at every level; actors, costumes, set, etc., while being guided by long-time Little Theatre volunteers. This year’s production is written by Advanced Writing students from Garrison Middle School.
Students entering 7th Grade & above, please fill out the sign up form to the right. Students entering grades 1st - 6th show up for auditions with parent/guardian.
Upstage Teens
“Treachery at Cartilage Creek or … Our Hero Has A Bone To Pick”
Auditions: Wednesday, July 23, 10 AM
Ages: 7th through 12 grade students
Roles: up to 30
Rehearsals: Monday-Friday, July 28 - August 8, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Performances: Friday & Saturday, August 8 & 9, 7:30 pm
Admission: $10, festival seating
Did dinosaurs once roam where now stands the little town of Cartilage Creek? That’s the question that draws our heroic Johnny Onthespot to this Arizona desert hotspot. He takes up residence in the home of Widder Plunkett, the richest woman in town. Love beckons with another boarder, the lovely schoolmarm and Mother Goose enthusiast, Crystal Clear. Alas, the unscrupulous Bogus Rancidview also has his eyes on our heroine. Not only that, but this cad has convinced the Widder she is losing her faculties. Assisted by his partner-in-crime, Virginia Mayonnaise, he fakes a power of attorney and raises water rates so high no rancher can afford to pay. Then Rancidview offers to buy them out at a penny an acre! Will he get away with it? It’s a cascade of hilarious melodramatic action!
The program features Cheryl Sutlick as our seasoned teacher/director assisted by Kate Van Cleve. Rehearsals run during the day for two weeks and there are two performances on the last Friday and Saturday.
